Cultural Differences Spring 2008 Global Engineering Seminar 1 Agenda Week 8 Global Engineering Professional Seminar nAccordion Folders: Please extract your POS envelopes and “cultural differences” hand-out. nDue today: Trip Reports—please attach checklist and place in accordion folders. nDiscussion today: Cultural Differences and Values Frameworks nDue next week: Ethics analysis memo nPicture Make-ups (+5 points): TODAY, after class from 3:30 to 4:20 in Room 244.  In class: Hofstede Values Survey  Follow-up Job Fair with “Thank you’s”/”updates”!

Cultural Differences Spring 2008 Global Engineering Seminar 2 “Profession” Defined Lee Shulman, Stanford University and Carnegie Foundation: “The idea of ‘profession’ describes a special and unique set of circumstances for deep understanding, complex practice, ethical conduct, and higher-order learning.” Historical professions: medicine, law, engineering Contrast: the sciences of biochemistry and physics, and from reasoning systems such as philosophy or mathematics. Professions address critical needs for society: health, justice, safety and productivity

Cultural Differences Spring 2008 Global Engineering Seminar 3 Steven Brint, In an Age of Experts, Princeton University Press: Two components of professionalism:  Technical: application of broad and complex knowledge [requiring] formal academic study.  Moral: commitment to “important social ends…[and] demanding high levels of self- governance.” Knowledge is not enough. Community is the core of professionalism.

Cultural Differences Spring 2008 Global Engineering Seminar 4 Professional engineering practice nExamine problems—define problems, design investigations, set up testing, make inferences. nConvey recommendations—propose possible solutions, address short falls—provide technical leadership. nExplain decisions—connect with diverse audiences, unpack issues—deliver professional expertise. None of the above “answers” are in the back of the book.

Cultural Differences Spring 2008 Global Engineering Seminar 5 Documents deliver work: nResearch mode: usually narrative as in lab report, thesis or journal article--problem first, followed by history of the investigation; conclusions with supporting arguments are last. nApplied mode: usually “top down” as in memo or proposal format—solution first, followed by reasons (arguments), e.g., evidence, limitations, perhaps also counter indications/cautions.

Cultural Differences Spring 2008 Global Engineering Seminar 6 Conventional Memo FormatMemo nNavigating directions: memo heading nReporting conventions: hierarchy, headings, summary “up front”—contrast with “trip report” narrative organization. nDesigned for specific purpose: single user (or similar users) processing entire text.  Like letter — uses first person pronouns,  Like report—uses structured formality

Cultural Differences Spring 2008 Global Engineering Seminar 7 Ethical Reasoning Assignment  Formalize your recommendation about the “ethical situation” for this semester in a formal memo that persuasively argues for that course of action (Limit: one page).memo  Resources: ASME Code, Decision Matrix, Cultural Difference Dimensions. Cultural Difference Dimensions  Due in class next week with checklist.

Cultural Differences Spring 2008 Global Engineering Seminar 8 Ethical Frameworks, revisited nDilemmas require hierarchy, one value placed ahead of another. nProfessionals are called upon to advocate, to lead, to argue for ethical solutions. nEngineers take on ethical obligations in the exercise of their profession. (The Challenger disaster is a case study in the extreme and oppositional pressures in organizations.)

Cultural Differences Spring 2008 Global Engineering Seminar 9 “Cultural Differences” Vocabulary nWhat is polite? “Mores” differ— impacts global mergers such as DaimlerChrysler—now, Daimler AG and Chrysler LLC. nWhat is right? “Morality” differs across cultures—along at least 5 major dimensions.

Cultural Differences Spring 2008 Global Engineering Seminar 10 HofstedeHofstede’s Five Dimensions nPDI: Power Difference Index nIND: Individualism nMAS/ACH: Achievement nUAI: Uncertainty Avoidance Index nLTO: Long-term Orientation (recent addition) VSM94: taps first four indexes. Please compare your own profile with other countries of interest to you. See:

Cultural Differences Spring 2008 Global Engineering Seminar 11 Continuum Perspective IndividualistCollectivist US UK F G R, I, S ME M A SEA/C A-Africa, C-China, F-France, G-Germany, I-India, J-Japan, M-Mexico ME-Middle East, R-Russia, S-Spain, SEA-Southeast Asia, UK-United Kingdom, US, United States Source: Craig Storti, Figuring Foreigners Out, Intercultural Press, 1998, p. 52.

Cultural Differences Spring 2008 Global Engineering Seminar 12 Hofstede: U.S. & China Profiles PDI, IND, MAS/ACH, UAI, LTO